Header integral with and sealed into boiler casing



E. W. LUDT Oct. 6, 1953 HEADER INTEGRAL WITH AND SEALED INTO BOILERCASING 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 28, 1952 INVENTOR Edward W. Ludt QaAi'TbR Y HEADER INTEGRAL WITH AND SEALED INTO BOILER CASING Oct. 6, 1953Filed Feb. 28, 1952 INVENTOR Edward W. Ludt BY Q AHQR Y Fig. 2'.

Oct. 6, 1953 E. w. LUDT 4 3 I HEADER INTEGRAL WITH AND SEALED INTOBOILER CASING Filed Feb. 28, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Edward W. ludt.

BY Z??? 'ATTOR Y Patented Oct. 6, 1953 HEADER INTEGRAL WITH AND SEALEDINTO'BOILER CASING Edward W. Ludt, Verona, N. J assignor to CombustionEngineering, Inc., New York, N. Y., a

corporation of Delaware Application February 28, 1952, Serial No.273,984

7 Claims.

My invention relates to steam generators which have casings that encloseboth the heat absorbing elements of the generator and the associatedfurnace, the casings having inner and outer walls which are spaced fromeach other and which form gastight chambers therebetween.

Insuch steam generators the combustion of the fuel within the furnacemay desirably take place under a pressure greater than atmospheric; theair for combustion may desirably be circulated through the casingchambers, prior to its delivery via the burners into the furnace, undera pressure greater than that inside of the furnace; and the variouspipes which distribute boiler water to the several heat absorbingelements of the generator may desirably be located within the chamberspace between inner and outer casing walls.

The invention particularly relates to the mounting of a header thatserves to distribute the boiler water to the aforesaid various pipeswhich in turn convey the water to the several heat absorbing elements.

' Broadly stated, the object of my invention is to provide improvedmeans for mounting such a distribution header within an outer casingwall.

A more specific object is to accomplish the foregoing by mounting thedistribution header within a removable panel of the casing wall andproviding improved means for accommodating movement due to expansion.

' Another object is to so mount the header in the casing wall that itserves to convey boiler water from outside the casing wall to thedistribution pipes inside the casing wall without resort to the usualpacking against air leakage out of the casing.

Other objects and advantages will be best understood from the followingdescription of an illustrative embodiment of the invention when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a steam generator wherein one form of theinvention is shown as being embodied.

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on line 2--2 of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2. l

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary portion of Fig. 2 to an enlarged scale, showingthe lower end of the left outside casing wall having a distributionheader mounted thereinin accordance with this invention.

In the illustrative form here shown, my invention has been incorporatedinto a marine type of steam generator designed for mounting on a shipand utilizing the double casing and support structure disclosed andclaimed by copending application Serial No. 274,001, filed February 28,1952,- in the name of David M. Schoenfeld for Steam Generator Supportand Casing Structure of Box-Column Construction; but as the de-'scription proceeds it will become apparent that boiler furnaces of othertypes and designs also may. be benefited by the new header and casingorganization which is disclosed herein.

The steam generator herein illustrated will be seen from Figs. 2 and 3to utilize a furnace F communicating with a furnace ofitake Othereabove, in which offtake the heat absorbing elements I, 2, 3 and 4are located. Eachrof these elements comprises a bank of horizontallydisposed parallelly spaced apart tubes 5 interconnected by return bends6 for serial flow of fluid therethrough from an inlet to anoutletheader. Portions of tubular elements 4 line the furnace wall 7(Fig. 3) and rows of tubular elements 8 line the furnace Walls 9, l0 andthe bottom ll (Fig. 2). The ele-= ments are enclosed on four sides bythe inner casing walls 1, l2, 9 and I0 and on th bottom by the furnacefloor l I. At the top is the breeching opening l3 out of which thefurnace-leaving gases flow. I

Spaced. from the aforesaid inner casing walls are outer casing walls I4,l5, l6 and Il forming chambers therebetween. In the arrangement shownthe inner and outer walls extend throughout the height of the furnace Fplus oiftake O and are connected to top and bottom plates I8, I 9, 20,2| and 22, 23; 24, 25 respectively which seal the chambers at the topand bottom.

The represented furnace F is operated under a positive internal pressurewhich extends into the oiftake O; and to prevent the products ofcombustion within the furnace and the offtake from leaking into theboiler room, the air for combustion is circulated through the chambersbetween the inner and outer casing walls under a pressure (such as up to175. inches of water) which is higher than the pressure within thefurnace so that any leakage will occur from the chambers into thefurnace. To this end an air inlet 26 (Fig. 1) is provided in the outercasing and. a blower (not shown) with a conduit connected thereto and tothe air inlet serves to supply the air to the chambers under pressure.Said air for combustion flowing through the casin chambers leaves thechambers through the openings 21 in the inner wall l2 (Fig. 3) andthence flow into 3 the furnace F. The fuel is delivered into the furnaceF by burners 28.

The banks of tubular heat absorbing elements I, 2, 4 and 8 (Figs. 3 and2) receive boiler water to be evaporated from supply headers 29, 30, 3|(Figs. 2 and 3) and 32 (Fig. 2) respectively. The supply headers are inturn supplied with water by distribution pipes 33, 34 serving headers29, 30 (Fig. 2) and pipes 35, 36 serving headers 32, 31 (Fig. 2). All ofthese supply headers and distribution pipes are located within the airchambers between the inner and outer casing walls and must be suppliedby a pipe or pipes which pass through an outer casing wall.

It accordingly becomes necessary to seal around any such pipes whichpass through an outer casing wall so as to prevent air leakage from theair chambers into the boiler room. Before describing how this is doneaccording to the invention, the description of the circuits of the banksof heat absorbing elements will be continued.

The banks of evaporation tubes i, 2 discharge steam and water mixtureinto the common header 3?? from which the mixture flows through pipe 38(Fig. 2) into the steam and water drum 39. The banks of evaporationtubes 4 discharge into header 40 whence the steam-water mixture flowsthrough pipe 44 (Fig. 2 into the drum 39. The bank of furnace tubes 8discharge into header 42 whence the steam-water mixture flows throughpipes 43, 44 into the drum 39. The bank of heat absorption elements 3heats the saturated steam received from header 45 and discharges thesuperheated steam into header 46- whence it is piped to the steamconsumer. The header 6,5 is connected to the steam drum 39 by elbow A]and an outside pipe (not shown) between the elbow and the drum.

The invention as here illustratively disclosed is embodied in the outercasing wall shown in front elevation by Fig. I and in side sectionalelevation by Fig. 4 and by the left of Fig. 2;the remaining casing walls(which do not involve the invention) being generally similar inconstruction to that shown in Fig. 1. i

In Figs. 1, 2 and 4 said outside casing wall the steam generator isdesignated as l6, and it comprises left and right vertical cornercolumns 48 and 49 (Fig. 1) which support the steam and water separatingdrum 39 by brackets extending from the columns. Said columns 4-8 and 49extend from the bottom to the top of the casing wall 16 and their outersides form a portion of the wall. A portion of column 48 is of the openlattice construction providing the aforesaid air inlet 26 into thecasing chamber.

Between columns 48 and 49 are horizontally extending and verticallyspaced apart stiffeners 50. 52, 53 and 54- here shown as channels andangles which are fastened to thecolumns. These stiffeners may be theouter members of horizontal' beams such as 5|b, 52b, 536 (Fig. 2)extending from the outer casing wall Hi to the inner wall 9. Verticalmembers 55 and 56 (Fig. 1) extend between the horizontal stiffeners 50,5|, 52 and 53, and with the stiffeners divide the space between thecolumns 48and 49 and the stifieners 5!).and 53into six openings (two inthe horizontal direction and three in the vertical direction) as shown.Plates 51, 58, 59 and 60 are fastened to stiffeners 50, 5|, 52 and 53respectively on. their rearward sides and extend beyond the stiifenersto form ledges as shown, againstv which removable casing panels arefastened as by studs 6|;

said studs being positioned around each of the openings.

The panels for the aforesaid six openings are not shown in Fig. 1; butin Fig. 2 they are shown in cross section at 62. Said casing panelsprovide access to the air chamber between the outer and inner casingwalls. Immediately below said six casing panels is the stifiener 53 hereshown as rigidly fastened to a beam 532) (Fig. 2) within the air spaceof the casing.

The lowermost casing panel 63 (also shown in Figs. 2 and 4) isrepresented in place in Fig. 1. The horizontal stiffeners 53 and 54above and below said panel 63 are respectively provided with plates 64and 65 on their rearward sides (see Fig. 2) which extend beyond thestiffeners to form. top and bottom ledges against which the panel 63 isfastened as by studs and nuts 6!. Members 66 and 61 extend from thesides of columns 48 and 49 and lie in the same plane with the plates 6t,59. to form end ledges against-which the panel 63 is fastened as bystuds and nuts iii.

In accordance with my invention,. the aforesaid water distributionheader 68 (see Figs. 1, 2; and 4) having closed ends 68c is weldedintothe panel plate 63 thereby serving as a. stiffening member for saidplate and providing communication between the outside water supply pipe69, (see Fig. 4) to said header and the discharge pipes: 33,v 35 locatedwithin the air chamber of the boiler casing between walls It and 9 (see;Figs. 2' and 4). Holes are provided around the periphery of said panelplate 63, through which holes the studs 6.! pass extending from theplates 64., 65, 66, 6-11 (see Fig. 1). These holes are slotted in avertical direction along one of the. vertical edges of panel 63 topermit vertical movements of the panel 63 and the holes are oversizedalong the remaining three edges to permit both vertical and horizontalmovement of the panel; and a gasket 10 (as shown in. Fig. 4) preferablyis compressed between. the plate 63 and the. plates 66, 65, 66, 61, thebolts 6! passing through the gasket.

This improved mounting of the distribution header 63 in the panel plate63 providesa number of advantages. Oneof these is that the header 68serves as a stiifener for plate 63.. Another lies in facilitatingrelative up and down movement by the header and therewith the panel 63,and the horizontal movement of the panel 63 and header 68 from a fixededge. The plane in which plates 63 lie is parallel to the pipe 'Il (Fig.2) connecting the drum 39' with the suction of the circulation. pump 12,which delivers boiler water to the steam generating elements; The pump12 is suspended from the drum 39 by the pipe H and moves verticallydownward as the pipe expands and may move horizontally with theexpansion of the drum from an anchor point such as at one end of thedrum. The pump dis.- charge is connected by pipe 69 to the header 68 andpanel 63.

The anchor point for the drum is advantageously located adjacent thesame side of the easing wall I6 as are the row of slotted holes in thevertical edge of panel 63. Consequently any horizontal movement of thedrum 39 and therewith. the pipe H, the pump 12, the pipe 69, the header68 and the panel 63, will be accommodated by the oversized holes inthe.- remaining three sides of the panel 63. surrounding the studs 6i.As the pump 12 and pipe 69 move, the header .68 and panel 63 can movewith them in the same directions and in a. plane both parallel to thepump movements and to the casing wall. The

panel 63 will therefore slide on the plates 64, 65, 66, 61 or on thegasket therebetween and the slotted and oversized holes in plate 63accommodate the movement.

It will further be seen that this construction eliminates the use of thestufling box which has heretofore been provided around the pumpdischarge pipe 69 where the pipe passed through a hole in the outsidecasing wall. arrangements pipe 69 was thence connected to thedistribution header (equivalent to header 68) which was then locatedwithin the casing air chamber. Such stuffing boxes did notsatisfactorily accommodate vertical movement of the pump discharge pipe69. quired a substantially long straight portion of pipe 69 adjacent thepanel 63 in order to provide access for the gland and packing removal.This straight pipe portion required either an increased spacing betweenthe pump 12 and the casing wall It over that required by the use ofthis'invention, or a reduction in the distance between the outer andinner casing walls [6 and 9. In theformer case the overall setting widthof the steam generator is objectionally increased i above that requiredby use of the invention and in the latter case the air chamber betweenwalls 16 and 9 is obj ectionally decreased. The elimination of theseobjections made possible by the present invention therefore constitutesa significant advantage.

While I have shown and described one illustrative embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that changes in construction,combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a steam generating unit comprising a heat absorbing section, anassociated furnace for supplying heat to said section, and a casingsurrounding and enclosing said unit and on at least one side of the unitutilizing spaced apart inner and outer vertical side casing wallscooperating with top and bottom walls to form a fluidtight chamberbetween the vertical Walls, the combination of means forming an aperturein said outer casing wall on one side of said unit; means on said walladjacent said aperture for receiving and fastening a removable casingpanel thereto in fluidtight contact to close said aperture, said panelcomprising a plate; a tube with closed ends forming a supply header forsaid heat absorbing section, said header being fastened by a fluidtightjoint along horizontal diametrically opposite elements coplanar andlongitudinally within an aperture of said plate leaving a substantialportion of the peripheral surface of said tube on opposite sides of saidplate; an inlet pipe into said tube on the outer side of said plate; andan outlet pipe from said tube on the inner side of said plate andconnected to said heat absorbing section.

2. In a steam generating unit comprising steam generating sections, anassociated furnace for supplying heat to said sections, and a casingsurrounding and enclosing said furnace and sections and utilizing spacedapart inner and outer vertical side casing walls cooperating with topand bottom walls to form fluid tight chambers between the spacedvertical walls, the combination of means forming an aperture in one ofsaid outer casing Walls; means on said wall adjacent said aperture forreceiving and fastening a removable casing panel thereto in fluidtightIn such prior Such stuffing boxes recontact to close said aperture, saidpanel com'-' prising a plate; a tube with closed ends and forming acylindrical supply header for said steam generating sections, said tubebeing fastened by a fluidtight joint along horizontal diametricallyopposite elements coplanar and longitudinally within an aperture of saidplate leaving'a substantial portion of the cylindrical surface of saidtube on opposite sides of said plate; an inlet pipe into said tube onthe outer side of said plate; and an outlet pipe from said tube on theinner side of said plate and connected to said steam generatingsections.

3. In a steam generating unit comprising steam generating and heatingsections, an associated furnace for supplying heat to said sections, anda casing surrounding and enclosing said furnace and sections andutilizing spaced apart inner and outer vertical side casing wallscooperating with top and bottom walls to form fluidtight chambersbetween the spaced vertical walls on the sides of the unit, thecombination of a frame structure supporting said casing andcomprising-vertical columns at the corners of said casing extendingwithin said chambers from said top to said bottom walls; stiffeningmembers in an outer casing wall fastened to said columns and extendinghorizontally at spaced vertical intervals between said columns; means onsaid columns and members for receiving and fastening a removable casingpanel thereto in fluid' tight contact to form one portion of said outercasing wall, said panel comprising a plate; a tube with closed endsforming a cylindrical supply header for said steam generating sections,said header being welded along horizontal diametrically oppositeelements coplanar and longitudinally into an aperture of said plateleaving a substantial portion of the cylindrical surface of said tube onopposite sides of said plate; an inlet pipe connected to said tube onthe outer side of said plate; and an outlet pipe connected to said tubeon the inner side of said plate and connecte to said steam generatingsections.

4. In a steam generating unit comprising steam generating and heatingsections, an associated furnace for supplying heat to said sections, anda casing surrounding and enclosing said furnace and sections and on atleast One side of the unit utilizing spaced apart inner and outervertical side casing walls cooperating with top and bottom walls to forma fluidtight chamber between the vertical walls, the combination of asteam and water separating drum mounted adjacent said outer casing Wallon one side of said unit; means forming an aperture in said outer wall;studs in said wall adjacent said aperture for receiving and fastening aremovable casing panel thereto in fluidtight contact to form one portionof said outer casing wall, said panel comprising a plate; a tube withclosed ends forming a cylindrical supply header for said steamgenerating sections said header being welded along horizontaldiametrically opposite elements coplanar and longitudinally into anaperture of said plate leaving a substantial portion of the cylindricalsurface of said tube on opposite sides of said plate, said plate havingholes provided to match said studs which holes are larger than thediameters of the studs to permit movement of the plate with respect tosaid studs; acirculation pump; a vertical pipe connected to the bottomof said drum and to the suction end of said pump; a pipe connected tothe discharge end of said pump and said supply header on the outer sideof said plate;

and an outlet pipe connected" to said header onthe inner side of said pe. d o, S d Steam enerator sections.

5. An organization according to claim 4 in which said drum is anchoredand oriented with respect to said outer casing wall so as to provide foraxial longitudinal movement of said drum due to thermal expansionthereof in a plane generally parallel to said outer casing wall; and inwhich vertical movement of said vertical pipe due to thermal expansionthereof causes a corresponding movement of said pump, discharge pipe andheader, saidmovement being accommodated by a parallel movement of saidplate while at the same time maintaining a substantially fiuidtightjoint between said plate and said outer casingwall.

6. In a steam generating unit comprising steam generating and heatingsections, an associated furnace for supplying heat to said sections, anda casing surrounding and enclosing said furnace and sections andutilizing spaced apart inner and outer vertical side casing wallscooperating with top and bottom walls to form fluid tight chamhersbetween the vertical walls, the combination of a steam and waterseparating drum positioned generally above the said outer casing wall onone side of said unit; a frame structure supporting said outer casingwall and said drum and comprising vertical columns at the sides of saidwall and extending within said chamber from said top to said bottomwalls; at least two stiffening members in said one outer casing wallbelow the drum rigidly fastened to said columns and extendinghorizontally at spaced apart vertical intervals between said columns;studs on said columns and members for receiving and fastening aremovable casing panel thereto in fluidtight contact to form one portionof said outer casing wall, said panel comprising a plate; a tube withclosed ends forming a cylindrical supply header for said steamgenerating sections said header being welded along horizontaldiametrically opposite elements coplanar and longitudi nally into anapertureof. said plate. leaving a.-

substantial. portion of the cylindrical surface oi; said tube onopposite sides of said. plate; said plate havin holes provided to matchsaid t da which holes are larger than the diametersof the studs topermit movement of the plate with re, spect to said studs; a circulationpump; an up-.. right pipe connected to the bottom of said drum and tothe suction end, Of said pump; a. pipe con-.

nected to. the discharge end of said pump and said supply header on theouter side of said plate; and an outlet pipe connected to. said headeron. the inner side of said plate and to said steam generator sections.

'7. An organization according to claim 5. in,

EDWARD W. LUDT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS INumber Name Date 1,727,177 Prentice Sept. 3, 1929- 1,76l,56'7 Kerr noJune 3, 1.930; 1,894,780 Jones May 12, 193l 1,925,847 Prentice Septl 5,1933. 2,169,934 Vorkauf Aug-15, 1939 2,172,227 Stillman Sept. 5, 19392,395,580 Qvarfordt a Feb. 26, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date12,364 Great Britain v July 9, 1900

